Flip pad with leg developer exercise machine

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine has a base member with a front end and a rear end. A leg developer pivotally mounts to the base member at the front end. The flip pad pivotally mounts to the base member at the front end and the flip pad is set in one of at least two angular positions. The flip pad with leg developer exercise machine also has a base standing on a floor and supporting a seat with a first pivot near one end of a seat. The seat is placed a distance above the floor on a base frame of base to accommodate a user comfortably to sit down for various exercises. The flip pad can be in abdominal position rotated toward the user or in bicep position. Specifically the user&#39;s back so that the user can exercise abdominal muscles or tricep muscles.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fitness exercise machines for training upper body and lower body using a leg developer and a pad that is adjustable to support different parts of the user's body depending on the exercise type.

BACKGROUND

Webber, U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,434, discloses leg exercise arm carrying leg engaging roller pads is pivotally mounted on a frame member of the support frame of the apparatus, and is linked to an exercise resistance such as a weight stack. An upper roller pad assembly is pivotally mounted on the frame member adjacent the leg exercise arm, and is freely movable between a down position engaging behind a user's knees for performing leg extension exercises, and a raised position resting on top of the user's thighs when performing leg curls or pull down exercises. However this invention does not show a locking device to fix the pad at different and definite angles. Webber, U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,233, also discloses an adjustable roller pads with an adjustable leg exercise station which allows both leg extensions and leg curls to be performed in a sitting position. A leg exercise arm carrying leg engaging roller pads is pivotally mounted on a seat supporting member on the support frame of the apparatus, and is linked to an exercise resistance such as a weight stack. A second roller pad assembly is pivotally mounted on the seat supporting member adjacent the leg exercise arm, and is movable between a down position engaging behind a user's knees for performing leg extension exercises, and a raised position resting on top of the user's thighs when performing leg curls or pull down exercises. This invention also does not show a locking device to fix the pad at different and definite angles. Shaver, U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,269, discloses an exercise apparatus comprising a conventional weight bench with a leg curl attachment at one end. The leg curl attachment includes either one or two L-shaped arms pivotally attached to one end of the bench. The arm sections that project downwardly in the at rest position carry weights while the other arm sections project from the end of the bench in the at rest position and are pivotally connected to one end of a tension link. The other end of the tension link carries a cross bar that engages the legs just above the knees to exercise the stomach during leg raises. However the tension link with the cross bar does not show multiple positions for different exercises. Maag, U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,380, discloses a thigh holddown clamp which consist of two rigid, frame-journaled, rotating assemblies, one of which is “T” shaped and rotates about the axis of rotation of the machine's rotating effort arm, into and out of a position of engagement with the operator's thighs, and the other of which can be selectively rotated, through operator manipulation, about an axis which is both parallel with and offset from the axis of rotation of the first, into and out of a position of interference with the first. Working together, these two rotating assemblies constitute a quick-engage/release, rigid, thigh constraint device. This invention however does not show multiple positions of the pad for different exercises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use that gives rise to the objectives described below.

The present invention is an exercise machine to use a leg developer to maximize its exercise setup options by making a support pad adjustable in its angular position whose range is more than 90 degrees. More angular positions may be available depending on the exercise options available and the user's preference on angular position of the pad for a certain exercise. A flip pad with leg developer exercise machine includes a base that stands on a floor, supports a seat for the user to sit down on, and provides a first pivot for a leg developer that hinges at the first pivot and has a bottom set of roller pads for leg extension exercise, a top set of roller pads for leg curl exercise, a weight holder, and an attach point for handles. The machine further includes a flip pad assembly, supported by the base, that has a second pivot substantially at the top end of the flip pad assembly with the flip pad rotationally fixed at the second pivot. The flip pad is fixed at an angle by an angle adjustment means. A certain amount of weight is added on the weight holder to provide a resistance for the exercises. Depending on the orientation of the flip pad, the user may sit facing toward the leg developer or away from the leg developer to perform different exercises.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having advantages not taught by the prior art.

Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that offers a cost effective way to provide an abdominal workout or overhead tricep positions using a leg developer.

A further objective is to provide such an apparatus with a simple angular adjustment mechanism for quick position change for a pad to support various parts of the user's body for different exercises.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment having the flip pad at an angular position to support the user's back for abdominal and overhead tricep exercises before the handle is pulled.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the flip pad at an angular position to support the user's back for abdominal and overhead tricep exercises after the handle is pulled.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the flip pad at another angular position to support the user's arms for arm curl exercise before the handle is pulled.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the flip pad at another angular position to support the user's arms for arm curl exercise after the handle is pulled.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a part of the embodiment showing a flip pad mechanism for a quick change of the pad angle at an arm curl exercise position.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the part of the embodiment showing the flip pad mechanism for a quick change of the pad angle at abdominal and overhead tricep exercise positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawings FIGS. 1-6 illustrate the invention, a flip pad with leg developer exercise machine, an apparatus 10 comprising: a base 20 standing on a floor and supporting a seat 24 has a first pivot 26 near one end of a seat 24. The base member has a front end and a rear end. The front end has a mounting for the leg developer and the front and also has a mounting for a flip pad. Seat 24 is placed a distance above the floor on a base frame 22 of base 20 to accommodate a user comfortably to sit down for various exercises. The flip pad in FIG. 1 is in abdominal position rotated toward the user specifically the user's back so that the user can exercise abdominal muscles or tricep muscles. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, a leg developer 40 having two sets of roller pads, one on the bottom side for leg-extension exercise and another set on the top side for leg-curl exercise, is rotationally fixed at first pivot 26 of base 20. The leg developer has an upper portion leg developer upper member 41.

An attachment point 48 is provided on leg developer 40 at a point spaced apart from the pivot point for a flexible member 50 such as a cable or chain links to attach to. The other end of flexible member 50 is attached to a set of handles 52 such as the flexible means shown, here embodied as handle straps or a handle bar. Leg developer 40 in FIG. 1 also shows a weight holder 46 in a form of a bar attached near the lower end of developer 40. Barbell weight plates well known in the field of the art may be used on weight holder 46 to provide a certain amount of resistance depending on the size and number of weight plates used. Different ways of holding weights in different forms may be employed on leg developer 40 including a cable system attached to a point at a distance away from first pivot 26 on developer 40 and to a force source such as a weight, flywheel with a brake, a stretchable band, spring, and/or a shock. Weight holder 46 may also be attached further up and/or out along the framework of developer 40 at a distance away from first pivot 26.

The embodiment in FIG. 1 also shows a flip pad assembly 60 that the user may rest her/his arms for arm-curl exercise, or back for abdominal or overhead tricep exercises. The angle adjustment of 90 degrees or more for the pad position allows the pad to support the user's back at one angular position of the pad for abdominal workout and the user's arms at another angular position for arm curl exercise. The adjustment angle of the flip pad can be up to about 180 degrees.

Depending on the user's demand, a flip pad 64 may be selectively fixed at an angle and/or a height. FIG. 1 shows flip pad 64 is rotationally fixed at a pad pivot 68 and has a pad pin hole 70 at a distance away from pad pivot 68. A first angle adjustment hole 74, in FIG. 1, and a second angle adjustment hole 78, shown in FIG. 3, are located on a pad support 62 of flip pad assembly 60 to hold flip pad 64 at proper angles for abdominal or overhead tricep exercise and arm-curl exercise respectively. More hole positions may be placed between and around first and second angle adjustment holes to give the user more options to set flip pad 64 at different angles. FIG. 1 shows flip pad 64 with a pad pin 72 at first angle adjustment hole 74. Pad pin 72 may be a simple rod pin or a spring loaded pop pin widely used in the field of the art. A pop pin, a flip pad pin 28, is shown in FIG. 1 on base frame 22 to hold pad support 62 of flip pad assembly 60 at a height by locating one of height adjustment holes 76. Flip pad pin 28 may also be a form of a simple pin or a tightening knob widely used in the field of the art. The pad support 62 is preferably formed as a pad support post, which could be embodied as a hollow rectangular or round cross section metal member. The pad support is connected to the pad at the pad support top end is connected to the front end of the base 20 at the pad support bottom end.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, flip pad assembly 60 is shown with an angle adjustment system without using a pin that requires the user to pull or push it. Flip pad 64 has at least one pad flange 66 with two slot pins 69 fixed laterally. Slot pins 69 slide inside a slot 82 that is substantially L-shaped in a pad support flange 80 on pad support 62. When the user pushes flip pad 64 to one end of slot 82, flip pad 64 is positioned for arm-curl exercise as shown in FIG. 5. When the user pushes flip pad 64 to the other end of slot 82, flip pad 64 is positioned for abdominal or overhead tricep exercise as shown in FIG. 6. The advantage of this system is its simplicity of adjusting the pad angle without pinning to a hole. Likewise a number of different ways of adjusting the angle of flip pad 64 is possible.

In order to perform arm-curl exercise, the user first select an amount of resistance by either putting one or more weight plates 100 onto weight holder 46 on the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4. The user then sets flip pad 64 to a bicep angle and height to support her/his arms as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The user sits on seat 24 facing toward flip pad 64, and puts her/his chest against the closer edge of flip pad 64 with one or both elbows on pad 64. By pulling handles 52 attached to the flexible means 50, the user lifts the weights on weight holder 46 as shown in FIG. 4. The user may change the setup of the apparatus to perform abdominal and overhead tricep exercises by simply changing the angle of flip pad 64 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The user sits with her/his back against flip pad 64 and holds handles 52 over the shoulders. He/she may crunch the abdominal area for abdominal exercises or extend her/his arms forward over her/his head for overhead tricep exercise. The flip pad that provides different support angles for the user's body makes arm-curl and abdominal or tricep exercises possible using a leg developer arm 42 on a bench.

Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.

CALL OUT LIST OF THE ELEMENTS

-   10 Flip Pad with Leg Developer Exercise Machine -   20 Base -   22 Base Frame -   24 Seat -   26 First Pivot -   28 Flip Pad Pin -   40 Leg Developer -   41 Leg Developer Upper Member -   42 Leg Developer Frame -   44 Roller Pad -   46 Weight Holder -   48 Attach Point -   50 Flexible Means -   52 Hand Strap -   60 Flip Pad Assembly -   62 Pad Support -   64 Flip Pad -   66 Pad Flange -   68 Pad Pivot -   69 Slot Pin -   70 Pad Pin Hole -   72 Pad Pin -   74 First Angle Adjustment Hole -   76 Height Adjustment Hole -   78 Second Angle Adjustment Hole -   80 Pad Support Flange -   82 Slot -   100 Weight Plate 

1. An exercise machine comprising: a) a base member having a front end and a rear end; b) a leg developer pivotally mounted to the base member at the front end; c) a flip pad pivotally mounted to the base member at the front end, wherein the flip pad is set in one of at least two angular positions.
 2. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising: a flexible member connected to the leg developer and a handle connected to the flexible member.
 3. The exercise machine of claim 2, further comprising an upper portion of a leg developer, formed as a part of the leg developer, wherein the flexible member is connected to the upper portion of the leg developer.
 4. The exercise machine of claim 2, further comprising: a height adjustment member connected to the front end of the base member and supporting the flip pad.
 5. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the base forms a padded bench for a user.
 6. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the flip pad is mounted on a track providing at least two angular positions.
 7. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the flip pad is mounted on a pivot axis and secured with a pin.
 8. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the flip pad has an abdominal position, wherein the flip pad has a bicep position.
 9. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising: a height adjustment member connected to the front end of the base member and supporting the flip pad.
 10. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the base forms a padded bench for a user.
 11. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flip pad is mounted on a track providing at least two angular positions.
 12. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flip pad is mounted on a pivot axis and secured with a pin.
 13. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flip pad rotates more than 90 degrees between the at least two angular positions.
 14. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flip pad has an angle of rotation of approximately 180 degrees.
 15. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flip pad has an abdominal position.
 16. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flip pad has a bicep position.
 17. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the flip pad has an abdominal position, wherein the flip pad has a bicep position.
 18. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising: a pad support post supporting the flip pad.
 19. The exercise machine of claim 18, further comprising an upper portion of a leg developer, formed as a part of the leg developer, wherein the flexible member is connected to the upper portion of the leg developer.
 20. The exercise machine of claim 18, further comprising: a height adjustment member connected to the front end of the base member and supporting the flip pad. 